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Tag: Priority Pass

  • Plaza Premium lounges part ways with Priority Pass from 1 July; launches own PPL Pass

    Plaza Premium lounges part ways with Priority Pass from 1 July; launches own PPL Pass

    Plaza Premium has announced that it will stop accepting Priority Pass entries at most of its lounges worldwide from 1 Jul 2021, and will be introducing its own PPL Pass

    Why this matters?

    Priority Pass is the world’s largest network of independent airport lounges, with over 1,300 lounges around the world. All kinds of premium credit cards offer a Priority Pass membership, which is a great way to get lounge access when traveling. Priority Pass doesn’t operate lounges as such, but rather has partner lounges that it pays when a member visits.

    Plaza Premium operates the world’s largest collection of independent airport lounges, with 180 locations across nearly 50 airports. You can’t directly buy a Plaza Premium lounge membership, but rather Plaza Premium acts as a contract lounge provider for premium airline passengers, and for other lounge access programs.

    Historically you’ve been able to visit virtually all Plaza Premium lounges with a Priority Pass membership, but that will soon be changing.

    There will be a handful of lounges that will continue to accept Priority Pass entries, but these will be announced only in the months ahead.

    Other credit cards that have partnered Plaza Premium directly for complimentary entries will not be affected by this change.

    Possibly the best third party lounge network

    While Plaza Premium lounges cannot compare with top airline-operated lounges, they are still rather popular because they have worked on improving their offerings in recent years, offering quality lounges that are well decorated and carrying very decent offerings.

    In recent years, Plaza Premium also upped the ante with its new first class lounges called Plaza Premium First, available in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur airports. These are a step up from its regular Plaza Premium lounges and require an added fee for those who are using free lounge passes.

    Plaza Premium First Hong Kong (photo: Plaza Premium)

    Who is affected?

    Most people with a miles-earning credit card will be familiar with Priority Pass, which usually comes as part of their credit card perks. In Singapore alone, those holding the Citi PremierMiles card and DBS Altitude Visa card will have one that offers two complimentary visits a year, while the fee-paying Citi Prestige card offers a souped up version that offers unlimited entries. Unfortunately, such Priority Pass members will definitely be affected by this change.

    For customers holding the American Express Platinum Charge card and the OCBC Voyage card, lounge access to Plaza Premium facility will continue to be available, though they may or may not be able to bring guests for free.

    Plaza Premium’s partnership with DragonPass will continue, so those holding some ICBC and CIMB cards, plus UOB Visa Infinite Metal cardholders, will still be able to use the lounges within their annual entitlements.

    The Maybank Horizon Visa Signature card also retains access to the Plaza Premium lounges, but only at Changi Airport.

    Which lounges are affected?

    Of the 66 participating Plaza Premium lounges, 59 will be leaving Priority Pass. Most of them will discontinue from 1 July 2021, but there is a small handful that have differing end dates so check the details here.

    In Singapore, there used to be three Plaza Premium facilities:

    • Terminal 1: Plaza Premium lounge
    • Terminal 2: TGM (currently closed)
    • Terminal 4: Blossoms Lounge

    With the change, Plaza Premium has confirmed that

    From 1 Jul 2021, only the Terminal 4 facility will remain accessible by Priority Pass members. This is not unexpected, given that the lounge is a joint venture between SATS and Plaza Premium and the role it plays as the only pay-per-use lounge in the terminal.

    With Terminal 2 closed for refurbishment, it’s unclear if TGM will make a return, so that’s a question when it’s ready a few years down the road.

    Terminal 1’s lounge will be unavailable to Priority Pass members from 1 July, but there are plenty of other options in the terminal, including dnata lounge and SATS lounge.

    PPL Pass

    In a follow up to Plaza Premium’s departure from Priority Pass, Plaza Premium Group has also introduced its own PPL Pass, a new membership programme providing access to the Plaza Premium lounges for an annual fee, based on your usage.

    Similar to Priority Pass, PPL Pass is a membership programme where you can pre-load your account with either 2, 4 or 6 visits per year. The per visit cost ranges from USD33 to USD37.5 depending on the number of passes you buy.

    If you purchase the passes through the Smart Traveller app, you can shave a few more dollars off the passes, so your cost per visit goes down to USD29.83 to USD34, again depending on the number of passes you buy.

    All passes are valid for 12 months from the day of purchase.

    Where it differs from Priority Pass is that there is no unlimited option, so you will have to reload with more passes if you run out.

    Final thoughts

    Plaza Premium ending its contract with Priority Pass will definitely affect many travellers and how they value certain credit cards, when travel resumes in time to come.

    Effectively, for Singapore-based travellers, the options available at Changi Airport will be reduced to either the Ambassador transit lounge at Terminal 3, SATS lounge at Terminal 1 or the Changi Lounge located in the public areas at Jewel.

    With most third party lounge options gone from the Priority Pass list, this can swing in one of the following ways: Credit card companies will move towards partnering Plaza Premium on its PPL Pass, or throw in other perks to make the annual fee worth paying.

  • LOUNGE REVIEW: TGM (formerly known as The Green Market), Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2

    LOUNGE REVIEW: TGM (formerly known as The Green Market), Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2

    Plaza Premium operates a wide suite of lounges and airport transit hotel offerings around the world, and have been aggressively expanding in the last couple of years. Its footprint at Changi Airport is not small: it operates two lounges (one at Terminal 1 and 4 each), the Aerotel in Terminal 1 as well as a restaurant-lounge concept TGM at Terminal 2.

    TGM at Changi Airport Terminal 2, Level 3

    TGM, formerly known as The Green Market, has been around at Changi Airport for several years now. Located in Changi Airport Terminal 2, the space is on the third floor after immigration, right next to the food court.

    In the strictest sense, TGM is not exactly a lounge, but rather a restaurant. As such, the restaurant-lounge outlet also accepts walk-in guests who may be there for a meal, so this place tends to get a little busy during meal times.

    Given that it operates more like a restaurant rather than a lounge, TGM doesn’t have a large footprint. The restaurant only has booth and dining table seating, and you will be hard-pressed to look for an armchair to lounge at. Given the concept, the space makes it ideal for groups and most definitely suitable if you are expecting substantial food.

    For my visit today, I’ve used my Priority Pass card, which entitles me to a complimentary meal at TGM. TGM has a ‘corporate menu’ from which you can select a bento set, as well as a soft drink, tea or coffee to go with your meal. 

    Once you enter, you can choose from the following bento sets:

    • Sashimi Bento Set
    • Salmon Butteryaki Bento Set
    • Beef Shogayaki Set
    • Tempura Bento Set
    • Chicken Teriyaki Set
    • Korean Rice Cake and Dumpling Soup Set
    • Saba Teriyaki Set

    Unfortunately TGM does not offer complimentary alcoholic drinks, so if you are in the mood for a tipple you might want to check out the other Priority Pass lounges instead.

    Alcoholic drinks menu

    As I haven’t had lunch and was planning to fill up at TGM, I settle on the chicken teriyaki bento. The bento was pretty substantial: there was a side of gyoza, pork and radish, two croquettes, miso soup, rice and also some fruit. 

    Given that this is not a traditional lounge space, you aren’t going to get a lot of facility. In fact, the restaurant doesn’t even have its own restrooms, you will need to make a short trek to the public toilets next to the food court, so if you are travelling alone this may not be ideal, although the staff will be more than helpful to keep an eye on your belongings.

    Chicken Teriyaki Bento Set

    However, TGM is a good space if you need to get some work done. When I was there on a Saturday afternoon at about 3pm, there was hardly anyone in the restaurant thus making it a good respite from the crowd in the terminal.

    Also, every table has access to a power socket, so if you need to charge your devices or plug in your laptop, this is a good space.

    Final thoughts

    Overall, TGM is a good place to hit if you (i) have an unlimited Priority Pass membership, and (ii) need a fuss-free meal before you get on your flight from Terminal 2. This is a much better dining option over the SATS Premier Lounge in Terminal 2, even though it doesn’t come with complimentary alcohol.

    Having said this, if you need other lounge facilities, such as shower facilities or complimentary unlimited beverages, you will really be better off visiting the Plaza Premium Lounge at Terminal 1.

    TGM booth sitting

    Location and operating details

    Location: Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2, Level 3 (beside food court)
    Access: Priority Pass or Dragon Pass, or pay-per-use
    Hours: 0600H to 0100H
    Food and beverage: Yes, one complimentary bento set and non-alcoholic beverage
    Alcohol: Chargeable
    Toilets: No
    Showers: No
    Business Centre: No

  • Changi Lounge now accepts Priority Pass & DragonPass

    Changi Lounge now accepts Priority Pass & DragonPass

    Spend up to three hours at this public area lounge with your Priority Pass or DragonPass

    Three months after opening, Changi Lounge at Jewel Changi Airport is finally accepting third-party lounge pass programmes for admission.

    If you are holding a valid Priority Pass or DragonPass membership (which is fairly easy to gain in Singapore as many credit cards offer one), you may use them at Changi Lounge with immediate effect.

    Changi Lounge – Bar area

    As this lounge is in the public area, you will be required to show a valid same-day boarding pass to be able to use the lounge. That unfortunately means you can’t just walk in and use the lounge anytime you are in Jewel!

    For Priority Pass, you will only be able to access the lounge 4 hours before your flight (e.g. if your flight is at 5pm, you can only enter the lounge at 1pm), while for DragonPass, you can access it any time during the same day for a maximum of three hours per visit.

    Walk-in rates

    If you unfortunately do not hold any of the passes mentioned above, you can still use the lounge for a fee.

    Three hour admissions are priced as follow:

    Rates for three hours (SGD)AdultChild
    Without shower$38$27
    With shower$50$39

    Nap pods are available for an add-on, which are $34 for the first hour and $20 per subsequent hour.

    Changi Lounge – Sleep Pods